Catching Balls

This week on BSBL101 we are going to talk about the best catchers mitts on the market. Some are lighter than others are and some have more durability. The ones that are the best on the market are the Wilson A2k, the Wilson A2000, and the Rawlings Pro Preferred. My experience with all of these have been good but better with some than others.

First glove we will talk about is the Wilson A2k catchers glove. This glove is one of the newest mitts that does have the super skin technology. The superskin technology has two times the durability and two times lighter than the original leather. This glove feels great in hand and breaks in fast. This price of the glove $359.95, the price for this is good for quality and the feel of the glove.

The second glove is the Wilson A2000 with the superskin technology. This superskin technology does all the same things as it does on the A2k mitt. This glove has a little bit less durability to it, but that is expected because of the lower price. This glove does have some problems with the laces breaking. The price of the glove is $259.95 the price is ok for the quality, if it didn’t have the problem the price would be great but I have had to replace the laces three times.

The last glove that we will talk about is the Rawlings Pro Preferred catchers glove. This glove has some of the best leather that I have used and is durable. One thing that I do have to say about the glove is that it is a bit heavy when using it in game. The quality of the leather makes it heavy because the entire glove is made out of it. The price of the glove is $359.95, the price is fair for the glove but the weight makes it not as solid of a glove.

Overall the best glove is the Wilson A2k catchers glove. This glove with the superskin technology, and lightweight feel makes it one of the best options on the market right now. The second best is the Rawlings mitt if you are good at predicting the ball. I would recommend for college athletes the A2k, especially fo the higher athletes.      

Drop and Block

This week we are going to talk about the best gear for all the catchers out there. Myself being a catcher, I have gone through many sets of gear and know a good deal about the gear and features. Three of the biggest brands out there right now are All Star System 7, Mizuno Samurai, and the Rawlings Velo. Adult gear doesn’t come all together in a set usually, it comes separate meaning that each piece isn’t together in one purchase.

The first gear that we will talk about is the All Star System 7 gear. This gear is one of the most popular among pros and the college level players. This gear has a feature called delta flex, this a type of harness or strap that is made to help improve the fit of the gear and make it more form fitting. Also the chest protector has improved break points between the pads to help make control while blocking better. The chest protector has a price of $199.99, the shin guards have a price of $219.99 and helmet is $224.99for the two piece mask. The gear is really good but can be expensive.

Next is the Mizuno Samurai catchers gear. This gear is not as popular among the pros as the all star brand was but it is still a good brand. This gear has a flat chest protector with points the make it more comfortable while still providing protection, but it can be harder to make blocks while moving laterally. The shin guards are basic and provide much to the aid of the catcher besides protection. The chest protector is $150.00, the shin guards are $165.00 and the mask is $70.00. Gear is average for the price.  

Finally is the Rawlings Velo catchers gear. This gear is worn by very few catchers is the MLB but the ones that wear it are good. The gear has features such as the ab wedges, these help you to control the ball when blocking and have a short rebound. Colors are this gear a nice, the have incorporated a fade color system and will make you stand out. The chest protector is $149.99, shin guards are $199.99 and mask is $129.99. Good prices for the gear.

Overall the best gear out of what we talked about is the All Star System 7 gear. Even though the price is high the quality and features are the best and newest on the market and it will help you to rise above and stand out of the competition. For second and the cheaper price is the Rawlings gear with the low impact padding to help with the blocks. Either one of those two would be great options for any catcher.  

Speed Boost

In this weeks post we will be talking about the best cleats and the styles of cleats for the player. The three that we will be talking about are the New Balance 3000v4 low cut cleats, the Nike Alpha Huarache low cut cleats, and the New balance 4040v4 low cut cleats. One thing to share before we get in depth with all the cleats is that i’m only comparing low cut cleats because mid and high tops provide fake stability and are not good for your ankles.

Fist is the New Balance 3000v4 low cut cleats. These cleats a somewhat new on the market right now and have new technology that has been developed by New Balance called Fresh Foam on the bottom of the cleat. They have also come out with putting a new plate on the bottom of the cleat to make it feel more like a running shoe for those who like that type of feel. These cleats are priced at $99.99 a fair price for the new tech.

Next up is the Nike Alpha Huarache cleats. These cleats have become more popular when Nike made them have a better feel than the older versions of the cleat. Nike has added an air unit to the bottom of the cleat to help cushion your foot when running. They also created a stud design for the spikes so that any position will feel comfortable in them. They have a price tag of $90 even and are a good price for the cleat.

The final cleat that we are going to discuss is the New Balance 4040v4 low cut cleats. These have been what i have been wearing for two seasons now and i highly recommend them. This cleat features New Balances REVlite cushioning that is extremely durable while offering good cushioning for your feet. They are also extremely lightweight because of the tech in the midsole of the shoe. They are $99.99 and are a fair price for the cleat.

My final thoughts is that the New Balance 4040v4 cleats are the best ones to buy at the moment the 3000v4 cleats are a bit bulky and the Nike cleats tend to run small so they are not sized correctly. For the price the 4040v4 cleats are durable and comfortable and provide the support needed to play any position on the field.   

Big Bats

This week on BSBL 101 we will talk about the things that make up a good baseball bat and some of the best bats that are on the market right now. First thing to know is some basic knowledge about the different styles of bats and compositions of bats. Some baseball bats are balanced differently. They can be end heavy, that means that most of the weight distribution of the bat is in the barrel making the sweet spot have more power but also making it smaller, making it ideal for power hitters.  The more balanced bats that are on the market right now have the weight distributed more evenly throughout the bat making the sweet spot bigger but have less power, making it ideal for contact hitters. The three baseball bats that we will be comparing this week are the Rawlings VELO, the Demarini CF Zen, and the Louisville Slugger Prime 919.

First off the Rawlings VELO, this is a one piece bat made out of aluminum alloy. This bat is designed for the top of the line up, it has a lot of barrel through the zone when being swung. One thing too that helps the VELO stand out from the other bats on the market now is that it makes one of the loudest “ping” noises out of baseball bat. This bat cost about $300 and is a good price for the quality of the bat. 

Second is the Demarini CF Zen, this is a  two piece bat made out of composite. The composite barrel is designed to help the hitter get the most amount of “pop” from the bat. This bat is similar to the VELO in that it is designed for the top of the line up because of how balanced the bat is. This bat has a price tag of $450, which is a bit steep for the bat. If you had the money this is a high quality bat that would help out any hitter.

The final bat is the Louisville Slugger Prime 919, this bat is a two piece composite bat that is more end heavy than the other two. This bat is made more for the power hitters or “ the Big Boys” of the team. One additional thing that this bat has is the Lizard Skin grip tape that is put on all of their bats, this is some of the best grip tape on the market. This bat has a price of $450, which fits all of the materials and R&D on the bat.

Overall the best bat this week is the Rawlings VELO. First because of the low price tag of the bat for the quality if the bat. Secondly it’s good because almost any one in the line up can use the bat, although it is designed for the top of the order. Third it is just a good bat, i have had some hands on use with it and it felt really good in the hands. So if your on the market for a new bat the VELO should definitely be on the list.